Hey guys just wanted to show you a slight modification I did with my Vario Trex...

Hey guys just wanted to show you a slight modification I did with my Vario Trex Lama, specifically to the turbine. Having never seen the actual turbine on a lama helicopter before, I assumed that it's turbine would work just like most turbines for example on those Air force jets. So, after building the model turbine I then installed a center burner simulated afterburner LED light system, from the rcgreek.com at the rear of the model.

These afterburner LEDs are designed to run off of 7.2 volts and most are proportionally linked to the throttle channel. First thing.. 7.2 volts makes this light extremely and unrealistically bright. Additionally these units are designed to have air running over the lights to cool them down which is impossible inside of a turbine. As a compromise I use the resistor and cut the power down to 5 volts thereby reducing the brightness and lowering the heat.

I linked mine to the throttle channel however if you're using idle up one or idle up to as a starting point the light will come on at its full brightness in that configuration. To make it somewhat more realistic I start the heli in normal mode with very slight taps of up throttle enough to start the lights blinking but not enough to start the motor turning.. when that is linked to the sound system I use the blinking lights to simulate the churning up of the turbine and eventually give enough throttle to turn the blades and eventually go into idle up one.
There's two videos I have up of this. One of the videos, the close up... Some people have said that the the light is too bright and distracting.. in reality it really isn't. I simply chose to videotape the heli on the ground at dusk in order to accentuate the light.
I never fly my heli at dusk, my eyes aren't that great if you look at the other video of it flying during the day that is a more realistic portrayal of the intensity of the light, or the lack thereof. It was not until I finished building this thing that someone told me that there is no emitting of light from the turbine on a real lama.. so to that extent I guess this add-on is not technically scale, but I like it... So it will stay. 🙂

https://youtu.be/-t9-1OTVtow